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Blogmas Day 30: 2014 Favorites

Hello, everyone! We're almost there-- the end of Blogmas! In this thirtieth post, I will be discussing some of my 2014 beauty and book favorites. Sadly, I didn't see any films or television shows last year that struck me enough this year to include in a favorites post. That being said, let's crack on and see what did have me excited last year!

Beauty

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask: You can wear this like a mask and wear it overnight or, like me, you can use it as a night cream and work it into your skin. Even on my oily-combination skin, this mask works to keep my skin balanced and plump. My first tube of the product took about nine months to finish . . . and I am still working on the dregs. Needless to say, I have already repurchased the product and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

First-Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream: When the NARS Tinted Moisturizer sent my skin into allergic reaction panic mode, the only stuff that got my skin to calm the fuck down was this. The Ultra Repair Cream is oil-free, nourishing, and counts colloidal oat flour as one of its main ingredients. If you are as prone to rashing-out like I am, it's a God send.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser: I picked up this milky cleanser when I was in the midst of a post-move skin freak out and it sorted me out. Throughout the year I have constantly returned to this product and, were I hard press to only use one face wash for the rest of my life, it would be this one.

Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer: After my ill-fated encounter with the NARS Tinted Moisturizer, I picked up this cult-favorite and found myself equally enamored. Light, but with the slightest amount of coverage, this product is my go-to base on good skin days.

Lush Godiva and Karma Komba Shampoo Bars: I have long struggled to find a shampoo that left my hair feeling both cleansed and nourished. I met my match with these two shampoo bars which, luckily enough, smell intoxicatingly of jasmine and patchouli.

NARS Laguna Bronzer: This year I finally listened to the hype and bought Laguna. I can safely say that this has become my Holy Grail bronzer and I doubt I will ever stay from it.

NARS Lip Pencils: One of the best descoveries I made all year was of the NARS Velvet Matte and Satin Lip Pencils. I currently own five shades (four matte and one satin) and I even managed to get my mom to buy one for herself. They are good stuff, dudes.

The Lazarus Project by Aleksander Hemon: I believe I picked this one up after seeing it in one of Rose Mannering's hauls. I read much of this book pool-side during the late spring/ early summer. While I wouldn't say this is a dishy beach read by any measure, I did find the story to be both engrossing and heartbreaking. Given the events of the past six months or so, the book feels particularly timely.

Elenore & Park by Rainbow Rowell: This is probably the book that had me crying the most this past year . . . and this was the year I read The Fault in Our Stars! Without a doubt, I think E &P was was better than Fangirl . . . which is good, but over-hyped. If you like classic post-punk music, graphic novels, and sad YA fiction, you should definitely give this one a go.

Let me know some of the books, products, film, or music that turned your head in 2014 in the comments below.